Aldama Elementary School in Los Angeles, California on DonorsChoose

{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Aldama Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":17.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7887881,"projectId":9405913,"letterContent":"With deepest gratitude, I want to let you know that your kindness has touched so many little hearts in my classroom. Your kind donation made it possible for me to attend Breath for Change Mindfulness, Social-Emotional Learning, and Yoga Teacher training last summer. Your generosity gave me the opportunity to immerse myself in this powerful, educator-focused program that combined yoga, breathwork, mindfulness practices, and trauma informed SEL strategies. The program was an online experience over several weeks with a mix of deep learning sessions, movement practices and community connections. In an experience full of teachers from different grade levels, teaching experiences and places, I could not help but to feel empowered and inspired to come back to my classroom and offer my students this wonderful gift! It was a program truly tailored just for teachers who want to support the whole child, especially in these difficult times we live in. \r\n\r\nThe highlight for me was learning all the great benefits of simple intentional breathing techniques and short yoga flows. In my classroom, it has helped my students be more independent in regulating their emotions. I have seen the biggest difference in a couple of my students that have big emotions and experience self regulation challenges. They are able walk to the calming corner in my classroom and return to calm and focused by either practicing a breathing technique, taking a quiet moment or using our \"calm-jar\" (a jar filled with water, glitter, stars and sequins) when shaken, the contents swirl, and as they slowly settle, it encourages calming, breathing and refocusing. I learned how to teach in a trauma-informed and inclusive way so my students feel safe participating in our yoga and breathing in the classroom. They look forward to it. They ask for \"breathing please!\" I now practice mindful breathing in the morning before class starts and after lunch to help them transition, settle and refocus. \r\nI have also noticed some self-regulation breathing during or before a test. It has been so empowering!\r\n\r\nThanks to your support, I feel my teaching is more balanced and intentional and my students are building social-emotional skills for a lifetime way beyond the classroom walls. They are learning empathy, self-regulation, and kindness through gentle movement and mindful moments and all that, in turn helps them be more focused and ready to learn the academics. Thank you again for believing in this project and investing in our students' hearts and minds. Your kindness IS making a lasting difference!","fullyFundedDate":1756064472463,"projectUrl":"project/zen-kids-yoga-and-meditation-adventures/9405913/","projectTitle":"Zen Kids: Yoga and Meditation Adventures!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Olivares","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7887881_orig.jpg?crop=1415,1415,x0,y509&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754861841477","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7887881"},{"teacherId":126343,"projectId":9614419,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our classroom has been transformed into an even richer space for hands-on learning. My students worked on a exploration—scooping rice, molding kinetic sand, and pouring water through funnels while practicing new vocabulary like full, empty, smooth, and rough. These moments spark conversation, cooperation, and creativity, and they help children build fine motor strength and self-regulation skills in a natural, joyful way.\r\n\r\n By contributing to this project, you gave our students more than new equipment—you gave them meaningful opportunities to learn, explore, and grow every day. Thank you for being such an important part of our classroom community.","fullyFundedDate":1763307972005,"projectUrl":"project/outdoor-sensory-tables/9614419/","projectTitle":"Outdoor Sensory Tables","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. DLS","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp126343_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1606285660157","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msdelossantos-com"},{"teacherId":126343,"projectId":9166274,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support in providing sensory items for our Pre-K classroom. Your kindness is truly appreciated and has made a meaningful impact on our students' learning and development.\r\n\r\nSensory play is a vital part of early childhood education. It helps young children explore and understand the world through touch, sound, sight, and movement. These experiences build nerve connections in the brain, support language development, fine and gross motor skills, and encourage problem-solving and creativity. For many of our little learners, sensory activities also provide a calming, safe space to regulate emotions and build confidence.\r\n\r\nThanks to you, our classroom is now filled with tools and opportunities that support these important developmental needs in a fun, engaging way. We are deeply grateful for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1746786996758,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-overload-in-preschool/9166274/","projectTitle":"Sensory Overload in Preschool!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. DLS","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp126343_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1606285660157","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msdelossantos-com"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_7293","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":347,"numTeachers":24,"percentFrplEligible":77,"percentAsian":2,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":9,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":85,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"14.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":82.2,"schoolId":7293,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Aldama Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Aldama Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/los-angeles-unified-school-district/aldama-elementary-school/7293"}

About this school

Aldama Elementary School is an urban public school in Los Angeles, California that is part of Los Angeles Unified School District. It serves 347 students in grades Pre-K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 14.5:1. Its teachers have had 163 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades Pre-K - 5

347 Students

24 Teachers

632 North Avenue 50

Los Angeles, CA 90042 View local requests

http://www.aldamaes-lausd-ca.schoolloop.com

Direct, proactive support

Empower teachers at Aldama Elementary School to request what their students need.

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Aldama Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for public school teachers.

Every donation funds real needs — pencils, books, lab equipment, art supplies, and more — helping students learn and thrive. We ship supplies directly to the school, and you'll see exactly where each dollar goes.

See how DonorsChoose works

Aldama Elementary School Demographics

77%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

87%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Aldama Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Feb 6, 2026

DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.